chatfield



July 19, 1938.

F. CHATFIELD KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. FRANKLIN CHATFIELD *wmcm/M A TToHNEYs Jul 19, 1938. F.CHATF1ELD 2,124,104

KNITTING MACHINE FiIed July so, 1934 5, Sheets-Shea 2 IN vENToR FHA N n{1.8: CHATFIELD J 6 (WWI ATTORNEV y 1938? FFCHATFIELD 2,

KNITTING MACHINE Filec}. July 30, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INYENTOR FRANKIN CHATFIELD ATTORNEYS July 19, 1938. F. CHATFIELD KNITTING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FRANKLIN CHATF'IELD am/J I ATTO Filed July 30,1934 July 19, 1938. F. CHATFIELD KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1934 5Sheets-Sheet 5 m w 3 a 3 A 7 R9 6 9 w 5 B 5 I 3 a w 1 z n j M w a llv. 7.9 mm m 7 m 9 6 w 8 0.4. R on Wm H WMM vH m NC T I A L w 1 m PatentedJuly 19, 1938 m'rao STATES PATENT OFFICE nm'r'rmo MACHINE Chatfield,Minneapolis, Mimn, assignor,

by one assignments, to Munsingwear, .Inc., eapolis, Minn, a corporationof Delaware Application .iuly so, 1954, sci-n1 No. fiancee Z on.

diameters along its length, such as are commonlyknown as foundationgarments, or girdles, which are shaped to substantially conform with, orfit the body of the wearer.

Garments which are shaped to conform with the body of the wearer usuallyhave courses of elastic rubber thread inlaid with certain of the yarncourses, and to shape the garment, the tension of this elastic laying-inthread is varied.

When the tension of the laying-in threadis increased, the'diameter ofthe resultant garment becomes relatively smaller and, conversely, whenthe tension of the laying-in thread is decreased, the diameter oi thegarment becomes relatively larger. This results because when the tensionin the laying-in thread is increased, a correspondingly less amount ofsaid thread is fed to the knitting machines needles per revolution ofthe needie cylinder, than when the tension thereof is decreased, itbeing understood that the rotative speed oi the needles is usuallyalways constant.

Thus, the shape of the garment, diametrically,

may be controlled entirely by feeding the elastic laying=in thread tothe needles under varying tension, or, in other words, in measuredquantities.

I am aware that attempts have heretofore been made to provide apparatusfor varying the tension in the laying-in thread delivered to theknitting machine needles, but these have been more or less complicated.and have not been positive in operation. The novel thread-feedingmechanism herein disclosed, presents the utmost in simplicity; ispositive in operation; and may be quickly attached to an ordinaryknitting machine in a comparatively short period of time.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a threadmeasuring mechanism 5 adapted to be attached toan ordinary knittingmachine, whereby the elastic laying-in thread is automatically'fed tothe knitting machine needles in constantly varying amounts, to therebyprovide a garment having different and vary- 50 ing diameters along itslength, whereby it will substantially conform with, or fit the body ofthe wearer. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanismcomprising complemental 55 cones cooperating to feed the laying-inthread to the knitting needles in measured quantities, and which have aguide for directing the thread thereto, which guide is actuated by apattern mechanism operatively connected to the usual ratchet mechanismof the knitting machine; 5 A further object is to provide a threadfeeding mechanism comprising two units, one including a pair ofcomplemental cones adapted to feed an elastic rubber thread to theknitting needles, and

having a movable thread guide for directing the 10 thread thereto atdifferent locations along the length of said cones, whereby the varyingdiameters thereof will constantly vary the feeding of the thread to theknitting machine needles, and

. ment of said cam. Y

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensiveconstruction of the apparatus, as a whole; in the novel construction of25 the cone unit, whereby it may be completely assembled as a unitarystructure independently of the pattern mechanism, and drivenindependently thereof; in the construction of the pattern mechanismwhich may be readily connected to 30,

the usual ratchet mechanism of the knitting machine and driven thereby,and which comprises a plurality of interchangeable cams adapted tooperate a. device having a driving connection with the movable guide ofthe cone unit; said pattern 35 mechanism also comprising a plurality ofreadily changeable gears whereby the rotative speed of the cam my bevaried; and the interchangeability of said cams and also said gearsmaking it possible to quickly readjust the knitting ma- 4() chine fordifferent sizes and shapes of garments; and, in the novel constructionof the driving connection between said units, which does not necessitatethat the units be mounted upon the knitting machine in a certalndefiniterelation, with respect to each other, thereby greatly simplifying thework of mounting the thread feeding or measuring mechanism upon aknitting machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view showing a portion of a conventional type knittingmachine with my novel thread feeding and measuring mechanism mountedthereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, showing the flexible drivingconnection between the cone and pattern units;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cone unit, showingthe driving connection between the cones thereof and the usual ring gearof the knitting machine cylinder, and further showing the travel of themovable guide for directing the thread to the tapered cones;

Figure 4 is a front view of the cone unit detached from the knittingmachine;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan View on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, showingthe yieldable stop for the movable cone and the means provided forrelatively adjusting the movable cone with respect to the fixed cone;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 6|i of Figure4, showing the micrometer adjustment provided for the movable cone;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the pattern mechanism showing the devicewhich is operated by the pattern cam to automatically move the threadguide of the cone unit;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 88 of Figure '1,showing the general construction of the pattern unit and the preferredmanner I of connecting it to the usual ratchet mechanism of the knittingmachine;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional plan view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8,showing the driving connection between the flexible shaft and thepattern cam; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the outline of the tubularknitted fabric produced by the knitting machine, as a result of thenovel attachment herein disclosed.

Knitting machine In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown,there is illustrated in Figure 1, for purposes of disclosure, a portionof a knitting machine comprising the usual lower base member or ring 2supported upon suitable legs, not shown in the drawings. Side framemembers 3 are shown secured to the base member 2 and support an upperannular member 4, commonly known as the head base. The cam ring 5 issupported upon the head base 4 and within this ring is mounted the usualcylinder 6, in which the vertically disposed knitting needles 1 aremounted, and the dial plate III which supports the horizontally disposedneedles 20 as partially illustrated in Figure 3.

Cone Unit The cone unit is shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, and, asbest shown in Figure 4, comprises a pair of cones 8 and 9 mounted inangular relation with respect to each other, whereby the gap providedbetween the peripheries thereof is substantially vertically disposed.The cone 9 is secured to a shaft rotatably supported in a suitablebearing l2 in a bracket I3, having a portion seated upon the head baseor annular member 4 of the knitting machine and suitably secured theretoby bolts 14.

' avoid thread slippage.

The lower end of the shaft i has a bevel gear l5, which meshes with acomplemental gear I! secured to a shaft [1 rotatably mounted in abearing I8, shown provided at one end of a bell crank i9, adjustablysecured to a depending extension 2| of the bracket I3 by suitable bolts22 and 23. The bolt 23 passes through an enlarged aperture 20 in theextension 2 I, and is received in threaded engagement with the bellcrank I9 at the opposite side of said extension 2|, whereby when thebolts 22 and 23 are loosened, the bell crank l9 may oscillate about theaxis of the bolt 22 within the limits of the clearance provided betweenthe walls of the bolt 23 and the aperture 20, to thereby relativelyvertically adjust the position of the shaft i1.

A bevel gear 24 is detachably secured to the opposite end of the shaft Hby a suitable set screw 25 and meshes with the usual ring gear 26,suitably secured to the knitting machine cylinder 6, as best shown inFigure 3.

As a result of the bell crank l9 being adiustably mounted upon thedepending extension 2| of the bracket I3, the bevel pinion 24 may beconveniently adjusted with respect to the ring gear 28 to accuratelyaline it therewith. The pinions l5 and I6, which operatively connect theshaft II to the shaft l, are detachably secured to their respectiveshafts so that they may readily be removed therefrom and other gearssubstituted therefor to vary the speed of the cones 8 and 8. To preventlongitudinal movement of the shaft H, the latter is shown provided withan integral flange 21 adapted to engage one end of the bearing l8, and acollar 28 secured thereto by such means as a pin 29, which engages theopposite end of the bearing I8. By thus supporting the shaft H in thebearing l8, the bevel gears l5 and I6 may readily be removed from theirrespective shafts and other substituted therefor, without disturbing theposition of the shaft I1.

The cone 8 is shown provided with an axial bore 3| provided. at its endswith suitable bushings 32 and 33, bored to rotatably receive a spindle34 suitably secured to a hub 35 provided upon an arm 36. The arm 36 isadjustably secured to a complemental arm 31 mounted for pivotal movementupon an upright stud 38 secured to the bracket |3, as best shown inFigure 3. A suitable cap screw 39 secures one end of the arm 36 to thearm 31, and the opposite end of the arm 38 is adjustably secured to alateral'extension 4| of the arm 31 by a suitable cap screw 42. This capscrew, as best shown in Figure 6, passes through an enlarged aperture 43in the lateral extension 4| of the 'arm 31, and is received in threadedengagement with the terminal of the arm 33, whereby when the set screwis loosened, the arm 33 may be relatively adjusted with respect to thelateral extension 4|, within the limits of the clearance providedbetween the walls of the aperture 43 and the periphery of the,cap screw42.

It is essential that the gap or contacting portions of the peripheriesof the cones 8 and 8 be disposed in-parallel relation, as shown inFigure 4, so that the gripping action of the peripheries uniform thefull lengths of the cones to thereby The peripheries of the cones arepreferably knurled or slightly roughened, as indicated in Figure 4 toprovide better gripping surfaces for the thread.

. of said cones upon the thread will be substantially by a suitable locknut 45.

end of the lateral extension 4| of the arm 31 and has its inner terminalengaging the set screw 42, as best shown in Figure 6. The outer end ofthe adjusting screw 44 may be slotted, as shown, to receive a suitableinstrument for rotating it, and said screw is normally locked inadjusted position The adjusting screw 44 provides, in efl'ect, amicrometer adjustment for the cone 8, whereby when the cap screws. 38and 42 are slightly loosened, the angular position of the cone 8 withrespect to the cone '8 may be accurately adjusted by rotation of theadjusting screw 44, as will readily be understood by reference toFigures 4, 5, and 6.

Means is provided for varying the gap between the peripheries of thecones 8 and 8 to suit the diameter of the thread to be fed by said conesand, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5. may consist of a 'U-shapedbracket 46 suitably secured to the supporting bracket i8 and having itsspaced legs positioned'at opposite sides of the arm S'I. An abutmentscrew 41 is adjustabiy secured in one leg of the U-shaped bracket 46 andhas its terminal engaging the arm 31 to thereby limit movement thereofin a direction towards the cone 8. A suitable lock nut 48 secures theabutment screw 41- in adjusted position.

The arm 31 is yieldably held against the abutment screw 41 by a suitablecompression spring 48 having one end engaging the arm 81 and itsopposite end seated in the bottom of a socket received in an adjustingscrew i, provided in a U-shaped bracket 46. A suitable lock nut '52secures the spring-retainingscrew 48 in position in the bracket 46. Bythus supporting the arm 81, the cone 8 is normally retained in adefinite fixed relation with respect to the driving cone 8, whereby thethread-receiving gap between said cones is maintained substantiallyconstant.

Should the thread being fed between the cones,

however, contain a knot, slug, or some other defect, whereby it might beslightly larger in diameter, then when. such defect engages theperiphcries of the cones 8 and 8, the cone 8 will yield against thecompression of the spring 48, and thus permit the defective portion ofthe thread to pass between the cones 8 and 8 without danger of thethread being broken by the feeding action thereof.

The cone 8. as hereinbefore stated, is fixedly secured to the shaft Iiand is positively driven thereby when the knitting machine is operating.The yieldable cone 8 is driven from the cone 8 by suitable gears 53 and54, suitably secured to the cones 8 and 8, respectively, as shown inFigure 4. The teeth of the gears 58 and 54 are of a suitable depth topermit relative movement of the cone 8 towards or away from the cone 8,without interfering with the driving connection between said gears.

The means for guiding or directing the thread between the cones 8 and 8is best shown in Figures 3 and 4, and comprises a rack bar 55 mounted insuitable guides 68 and 81 provided in a small bracket 58 suitablysecured to the main supporting bracket I8. The rack 65 is provided atits upper end with a head 68 having a. groove '88 therein adapted toreceive the thread, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

The rack bar 58 meshes with a pinion 8! provided at oneend of a stubshaft 82 rotatably mounted in a bearing 68, adjustably secured to the.main supporting bracket l3 by a suitable cap screw 64. The cap screw 64provides means.

whereby the bearing bracket 83 may be relatively adjusted to properlyposition the pinion 6i with respect to the rack 55, as clearlyillustrated in Figures 8 and 4. A suitable guide 85 may be secured tothe head 58, as shown in Figure 3, to. guide the thread 86 into thegroove 68 in the head 68. A suitable guide 61 is also provided upon thecam ring adjacent to the knitting machine needles to guide thethreadfrom the cones to the -needles, as best shown in Figure 2.

Pattern unit The pattern unit is shown in Figures 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9,and, as best shown in Figures 7 and 8, comprises a pattern cam 68 whoseperiphery is engaged by the lower end of a rack bar 68, slidablysupported in a head 'II and meshing witha pinion I2 provided at one endof a short shaft I3. One end of a flexible shaft 74 is connected to theshaft I3 by means of a suitable fitting I8, shown provided with a setscrew I6 for securing it to said shaft.

Means is provided for constantly holding the lower end of the rack bar89 in operative engageable weight 11, removably supported upon the upperend of the rack bar, whereby the latter is constantly urged in adownward direction into engagement with the cam 68. It is to beunderstood, of course, that other means, such as a spring may be usedfor holding the rack bar in engagement with the cam. A weight, however,has been found preferable,.for the reason that the downward force thenexerted upon the rack bar is always maintained constant, regardless ofthe position of the rack bar in the head 1! The cam 68 is shown mountedupon a hub,

generally indicated by the numeral I8, and is minal 84 of a rod 88,which rod constitutes a portion of the usual ratchet mechanism of theknitting machine, generally indicated by the numeral 88 in Figure 1. Thehub I8 is retained on the sleeve 82 by a washer 81 and a-nut 88received. inthreaded engagement with the threaded terminal of thereduced extension 84 of the rod 88. The rod 85 is supported in thebrackets 88 and 8| of the ratchet mechanism 88,- which brackets aresecured to one of the side frame members 8 of the knitting machine, inthe usual manner, as best shown in Figure 1.

A gear wheel 82 is detachably secured to the hub I8 by bolts 88, and isshown meshing with an intermediate or idler gear 84 carried by an arm 85having a hub 88 adjustably secured to a sleeve 87, fixedly mounted inthe lower end of the bar 88. The hub 88 of the arm 88 is preferablysplit, as indicated at 98 in Figure 7, and has a lock screw 88 forsecuring the hub in ad- I iusted position upon the sleeve 6?.

The gear '82 on the hub I8 is driven from the usual shaft iii! of theratchet mechanism 86, by means of a pinion I88 secured to the tercammember I01 secured to the rotatable plate I08 of the lower portion ofthe knitting machine, as best shown in Figurel. mechanism constitutes apart of the usual ratchet mechanism 88 of the knitting machine, and itistherefore thought unnecessary to describe the same in detail, any morethan to show the operative connection between the rotatable plate I08 ofthe knitting machine and the shaft IOI.

Operation The novel mechanism herein disclosed is particularly adaptedfor feeding an elastic thread,

commonly known as the laying-in thread, to the knitting machine needles.The thread is received from the usual source of supply, such as abobbin, not shown, suitably placed adjacent to the machine, from whenceit may pass directly to the guide 65, and through the groove in the head59 of the cone unit, as shown in full lines in Figure 3. From the groove60, the thread passes between the cones 8 and 8 and through the eye orguide 81 to the knitting needles I The cones 8 and 9 function to measurethe thread delivered to the knitting needles, by constantly varying thetension therein, whereby the knitted tube is constantly varying indiameter along its length, as shown in Figure 10. The narrower portionsshown at I08 provide the waist line of the garment, and the relativelywider portion shown at III provides the hip portion of the garment.

The tube is severed transversely along the lines aa and b-b, wherebyeach severed portion will provide a garment, itbeing understood that thesevered edge portions thereof are suitably flnished to prevent thematerial from raveling.

The size and shape of the garment is controlled by the shape of thepattern cam 88, and also by the speed of the cones 8 and 8. The lengthof the garment between the lines a-a and b-b may be varied by changingthe size of the fear 8!, shown in Figures 7 and 8. This gear s readilydetachable whereby a larger or a smallpon the size of the garment. Thecones 8 and rotate continually, when the cylinder of the knittingmachine operates, because of being directly connected therewith, asshown in Figure 3. The pattern cam 88 operates intermit- Er gear may besubstituted therefor, depending tently, as a result of the ratchetmechanism 88, shown in Figure 1.

When the high point of the cam is engaged with the rack bar 88, theguide 88 of the cones will be in the dotted line position, shown inFigure 3, whereby the thread is fed between the cones at their largerdiameters, resulting in more thread being fed to the knitting needlesper revolution of the knitting machine cylinder. When more thread isthus fed to the knitting needles for each revolution of the cylinder,there is less tension in the laying-in thread, which results in therelatively larger diameter of the knitted tube, as shown at III inFigure 10.

As the cam 88 rotates, and the low point of the periphery of the camapproaches the rack bar 89, the guide 80 of the cones. will graduallymove upwardly until the lowermost point of the cam engages the rack 89,at which time the guide The above described 80 will be in the full lineposition, shown in Figure 3, whereby less thread is fed to the knittingmachine needles. By thus retarding the feeding of the laying-in threadto the needles, said thread is delivered to the needlesunder tension,whereby the knitted tube is contracted, as shown at I08 in Figure 10. Itwill thus be seen that the shape of the garment is controlled entirelyby varying the tension in the laying-in thread, as it is delivered tothe knitting machine needles, as will readily be understood from theabove.

The thread measuring mechanism herein disclosed, is very simple andinexpensive in construction, and may readily be attached to aconventional knitting machine of the cylinder type, without materiallyaltering the construction thereof. The mechanism, as hereinbeforestated, comprises two individual units or mechanisms, which areoperatively connected together by the flexible shaft ll, best shown inFigure 2. By thus constructing the two units, they may be completelyassembled, independently of each other, and mounted upon the knittingmachine, as shown in Figure 2. A suitable guide H2, is

preferably provided to support the flexible shaft I4, provided betweenthe two units, as shown in Figure 2.

In the drawings I have shown a mechanism capable of producing a garmentshaped to substantially fit the lower portion of the wearer's body, suchas the hips and waist line, but it is to be understood that by varyingthe shape or the cam 88 and changing'the gear ratios of the mechanism,that a garment may be produced which will substantially fit the contourof the entire length of the wearer's body, including the breast, waistline and hips.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. The combination with a. knitting machine comprising a frame, a rotaryneedle cylinder provided with a ring gear having a driving connectionwith a source of power, and an automatic ratchet mechanism, of a threadfeeding unit for feeding an elastic thread to the cylinder in measuredquantities, said unit comprising complemental cones tapered in the samedirection and suitably geared together for positive operation inopposite directions, a gear drive for the -unit, including a pinionmeshing with the cylinder ring gear, a guide for directing the thread'to the cones, a pattern mechanism remote from said cones andoperatively connected to said ratchet mechanism, and a flexible memberconnecting said pattern mechanism to the thread guide, whereby operationof the pattern mechanism will relatively move said guide to thereby feedthe thread between said cones at diflerent locations along their length,whereby the thread is delivered to the cylinder in measured quantities,and said thread guide having a rack engaging a pinion on said flexiblemember, whereby a positive movement is imparted to the guide.

2. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a frame, arotatable needle cylinder, and an automatic ratchet mechanism, of anapparatus for feeding an elastic thread to the cylinder in measuredquantities, said mechanism comprising a cone unit secured to said frameand having a pair of similarly tapered cones suitably geared togetherfor simultaneous rotation in opposite directions, means for positivelydriving said cones, a rack bar mounted for movement lengthwise of thecones and having a thread guidesecured thereto for directing the threadto the cones, a patternmechanism remote from said cones and having anoperative connection with said ratchet mechanism, and a flexible shaftconnecting said pattern mechanism to said thread guide, wherebyoperation of said pattern mechanism will relativelymove said guide tothereby deliver the thread between said cones at different locationsalong their length, whereby the thread is delivered to the cylinder inmeasured quantities.

3. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a frame, a rotaryneedle cylinder, and an automatic ratchet mechanism, ofan apparatus forfeeding an elastic thread to the cylinder in measured quantities, saidmechanism comprising a unit secured to the machine frame and havingcooperating cones for feeding the thread to the cylinder, means forpositively driving said cones, a guide for directing the thread to thecones, a detachable pattern cam -connected to and driven by said ratchetmechanism, a rack bar having one end engaging the periphcry of said camand meshing with a pinion, and a flexible shaft connecting said pinionto said guide, whereby when the cam'is rotated, said shaft will beoperated to actuate said guide and thereby deliver the thread to saidcones at different locations along their length, whereby the thread isdelivered to the cylinder at varying speeds.

4. In a thread feeding mechanism for a knitting machine, a pair oftapered cones having a driving connection with the knitting machine, aguide movable lengthwise of said cones to direct the threadtherebetween, a rack bar for said guide, a pattern mechanism comprisinga cam suitably driven from the knitting machine, a rackbar mounted forlongitudinal movement and having one end engaging the periphery of saidcam. and a driving connection between said rack bars, whereby when thecam is rotated, said guide will be moved with respect to the cones tothereby deliver the thread therebetween along their varying diameters. v

5. In a thread feeding mechanism for a knitting machine, a pair of coneshaving a positive driving connection with -the knitting machine a guidefor directing the thread between said cones, a rack bar for supportingsaid guide, a pinion meshing therewith, a pattern mechanism forcontrolling the operation of the guide comprising a rotary cam driven intimed relation to' the knitting machine, a rack bar engaging theperiphery of said cam and movable thereby, a pinion meshing with saidrack bar, and a flexible shaft connecting together saidpinions, wherebyoperation of said pattern mechanism will control the movement of saidguide. with respect to the cones.

\ 6. A. mechanism for feeding an elastic thread to a knitting machine inmeasured quantities, said mechanism comprising a thread feeding unitadapted to be completely assembled before attachment to the knittingmachine and comprising cooperating thread feeding cones geared togetherfor positive and simultaneous operation and having a drive foroperatively connecting; them to the usual ring gear of the knittingmachine cylinder, and a guide for feeding the thread between said conesalong the lengththereof, and a second unit for operating said guide,said second unit being mounted on the knitting machine independently ofsaid first mentioned unit and comprising a cam-having a drivingconnection with the knitting machine, and a rack bar havingone endengaging the periphery ofthe cam, and a pinion meshing ,with said rackand having a driving connection by when the rack bar is actuated by saidcam, said guide will be moved along said cones, therewith the guide onthe thread feeding unit, whereby to control the feeding of the threadthereto,

and the driving connection between said units being such that the unitsmay be mounted remotely from one another on the knitting machine frame,and at varying angles with respect to one another without interferingwith the operation of saiddriving connection.

7. A mechanism for feeding an elastic thread to a knitting machine inmeasured quantities, said mechanism comprising a thread feeding unitadapted to be completely assembled before attachment to'the knittingmachine and comprising cooperating thread feeding cones geared togetherfor positive and simultaneous operation and having a drive foroperatively connecting them to the usual ring gear of the knittingmachine cylinder, and a guide for feeding the thread between said conesalong the length thereof comprising a rack and pinion, and a second unitfor operating said guide, said second unit being mounted" on theknitting machine independently of said first mentioned unit andcomprising a cam having a driving connection with the knitting machine,and a rack bar havin eration of said driving member.

